Blog Task #4: Extended Metaphor

Discussion Questions

Answer the following set of questions. Pay attention to the keywords in the question stem to
plan your answer, and to the grading indications of each to ensure you are meeting the
requirements.

1. Define the term extended metaphor. Research an example to support your answer.
Extended metaphor is a deep metaphor where it's longer than a normal metaphor,
extends the symbol in a number of ways. A comparison between two unlike things that
continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or in poems.
Example from Shakespeares As You Like It
All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have
their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.
Where Shakespeare has remarkably compared earth to a stage in the extract
mentioned above.

2. Locate the extended metaphor in chapter 6. Break the metaphor down into smaller
symbolic units below, and next to each symbol, suggest both the meaning of the symbol in
relation to the metaphor, as well as the pertinence to Titas life.

Symbol Textual Evidence Meaning and Connection to Titas life

Matches My grandmother had a very
interesting theory; she said that
each of us is born with a box of
matches inside us but we can't
strike them all by ourselves.
(page 115)
The matches represents the life force in Tita.
Where the matches needs other forces to
make them to light up, just like how Tita
need influences from people in her life.

Soul If that happens, the soul flees The soul represents Titas comfort, where
from the body and goes to the influences isnt quite positive and it is
wander among the deepest clearly shown that she is hurt both
shades, trying in vain to find physically and emotionally.
food to nourish itself, unaware
that only the body it left behind,
cold and defenseless, is
capable of providing that food.
(page 116)
Candle The candle could be any kind
of food, music, caress, word, or
sound that engenders the
explosion that lights one of the
matches. (page 115)
The candle represents the fuel for the
matches. Means that Titas candle is her
passion for cooking, which this helps her to
get through the bad things. Which its also
something that would have an effect on her
comfortness.

Birds They could do anything or
become anything. They could
turn into birds and fly into the
air! She would like them to
carry her far away, as far as
possible. (page 109)
The birds represents Titas freedom, where
the birds have no limit in flying; they have
to whole skies to fly around. Just like Tita,
where she has her freedom to do anything
she want, not only stay in the kitchen.

Oxygen My grandmother had a very The oxygen represent the power that others
interesting theory; she said that put on Tita. Tita lived under the control of
each of us is born with a box of Mama Elena, therefore, the power only
matches inside us but we can't came from Mama Elena.
strike them all by ourselves;
just as in the experiment, we
need oxygen and a candle to
help. In this case, the oxygen,
for example, would come from
the breath of the person you
love. (page 115)

Frigid As if reading her thoughts, The frigid breathe represents the bad people
Breathe John went on: `hat's why it's Titas life, here, its her friends and family,
important to keep your distance who always hurt her.
from people who have frigid
breath. Just their presence can
put out the most intense fire,
with results we're familiar with.
If we stay a good distance away
from those people, it's easier to
protect ourselves from being
extinguished. (page 117)